The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-02-19

IL went 10 the rabbis: they said that
Abraham was right. Then i implorec
Miriam TO fly with me--to steal away at
night and wed me In some distant land.
whittier should bear her; and though she
wept in my arms she only answered, Il
cannot disobey my father. i love thee
thee only: but will not bring upon my
head the curse Of dishonoring my parents
"Thus matters stood the fourth year OF
our love and our sorrow, when the birth
day of Miriams mother drew near, and IL
was also the anniversary OF the marriage OF
her parents. On this day there was TO be q
feast. and gifts would be given. and ad-
dresses made, and songs sung, and there
would be music OF all kinds.
Miriam desired TO surprise her mother
with gift. / had myself prepared a neck
lace OF jewels OF great value. Silver and
gold would be given ia profusion. Some
thing that her mother did not possess,
something rare and strange was what
Miriam searched for, and in vain, for n
long while. so that it was the eve Of the
day OF the feast, and still she was not pro-
yided with her Gift. What happened that
evening, have from others.
miriam had been in her fathers carriage
into the city, and had despaired OF finding
anywhere what she sought. She had just
resolved to send me the note we had agreed
upon, IL the days search ended in this way,
That might bring her beautiful chain l
had shown her one day. when the gnte OF
the garden Of her fathers house opened,
and man entered-a man bowed with the
burden of many winters.
"liis head was covered with n skull cap,
from which hung long locks OF snow-white
hair; his white beard fell below his waist,
and in his hand he bore small box.
AS he passed between the banana trees
he leant upon his staff, and seemed 10 move
more feebly. Miriam, who lad been
taught TO respect age, believing that this
was some old friend of her parents-per-
haps of her grandparents and
opened the door, and as he entered. set n
chair for him, aud stood before him waiting
for his bidding.
"The old patriarch sunk into the chair
she placed, and bowed his head YEARLY
upon his staff.
"'The way is long, and the path steep.
and my years are many he said and |
have come in haste lest / should be too
late. Thou art Miriam, the daughter Of
Abraham, the maker of firearms, whose
great wealth is known in the land, and
whom men respect so greatly.
al am Miriam, replied the girl; and
what thou sayest OF my father all say
al have been sent TO thee by Reuben,
the jeweler, said the old man. Il have
possession which, for want of gold, i
must sell. IL is rare mosaic-such as
cannot be found here. ] brought il from
MAR. Now misfortune has befallen me,
and / must cell it. See--is il not wonder
fulp'
"He opened the box ms he spoke, and
laid upon Mariam's knee n beautiful box,
suitable for jewels, on which was wonder
full picture in mosaic work of the rarest
kind-birds, flowers, fruit, human figures,
all SO wonderfully done that Miriam ex-
claimed with rapture, Name your price.
If it is within my means, / will give it., she
said.
"The old man bent bis head upon his
staff. For n moment he was silent. Then
he slowly shook his head
" Il cannot expect fair price, he said,
but will give Il you for so much.
Ale named n very large sum, but Miriam
had ample means. In moment more sho
had emptied her purse upon the table and
counted out the broad gold pieces.
"'And thank thee also, good father,
for bringing the beautiful mosaic she
said.
"The old man gathered mp the pieces.
They chinked together in his trembling
hands.
1t in we'll for me that have made this
sale, he said. well for me; and now /
have n favor to ask. That thou wilt re-
ceiye a small gift from me. / am under a
vow and an obligation to bestow n little
gift upon the one 10 whom / sell this mosaic.
Ii is but little ring of chased gold, but
perhaps thou wilt refuse to take 1t from a
poor man like me, fair daughter.
III thou art under vow and IN obliga-
ton, must not refuse, Miriam answered
".And thou wilt take IL willinglyg asked
the old man.
".Most willingly said Miriam.
"Her maid. standing beside her. heard
the words. She saw the old man take from
his fingers curious old ring.
MAY put it on thy hand, daughterP
he said.
"'You may, said Miriam.
The OLD man took the white fingers in
his own, held the ring above them, and
dropped IL over the taper tip.
~ consccrate myself TO thee with this7'
he cried; and thou art my wife, for am
thy cousin Abijah, to whom thou vert be-
trothed in thy infancy.
$50 speaking, he flung off his cap. his
false hair, the flowing white beard, and all
his disguise; and Abijah, of the wicked.
leering eyes, the cruel mouth, the evil
brow, looked in Miriam's face and laughed
nj her.
".Iy poor Miriam My lovel My only
love! She uttered one long cry, and fell to
the ground. She was Abiiah's wife by the
old law Of her people, and We were parted
forever; but there is n law stronger than
any other
aMiriam fingered week, and II was
upon the day when the rabbis declared the
marriage between herself and her cousin
TO be valid that she died-my name the
last word upon her lips.
"Since then / have been alone. i 90